I have written about my personal learning system in this blog - https://www.mayoan.com/post/4-about-my-learning-system
I have also written about how I approach any open issues with a systems design mindset at –
In this blog I am writing about the driving reasons for my ruminations – especially on spirituality.
Since my younger days, I have considered myself to be having a strong scientific bent of mind. I fully understood and appreciated the scientific methods of explorations. At the same time, I could not ignore the details of the spiritual body of knowledge as seen when I was growing up in India and which still influences me.
Some of the details that influenced my ruminations are as follows:
1. India is a country that has about 600 official languages, several prominent cultures – both serving as linguistic and cultural boundaries of the states. Even though the differences are stark, the knowledge body arising out of the Sanatana dharma principles are almost the same in the various parts of the country. Great saints and seers have risen time and again in India espousing these Sanatana principles and reinforcing the faith amongst the population. This long-drawn presence and the detailing associated with it cannot be ignored by any serious-minded thinkers.
2. The knowledge bodies consist primarily of Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas. There are other esoteric texts too written by experts of the various times. The systems of knowledge surrounding it are very deep in its perceptions. We can see literatures around Vedas, Bhasyams surrounding Vedas in almost all the various cultures of India that too sometimes in native language. There are about 200+ Upanishads which are deep treatises of various naturally occurring phenomena. The literal meaning of the word purana is “Ancient”. Though it is described as collection of mythology and folklore in recent times, since it transcends so much cultures and carries history-like descriptions, I think there is more to this than that meets the eyes.
The word Purana literally means "ancient, old", and it is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly legends and other traditional lore. The Puranas are known for the intricate layers of symbolism depicted within their stories (from brainly.in).
I must admit that I have not read any of the primary texts in its entirety or all its significant parts due to my academic and professional commitments which has taken a significant slice on my available time.
3. In various literatures like Puranas, there are too much detailing which makes me believe that these may be requiring more soul searching. These detailing exists as
- Sathees (100 names), Tri-sathees (300 names) & Sahasranamas (1000 names) that are being attributed to some deities that are some times seen carrying too many astounding concepts in its meanings.
- Names of gods, demons, asuras, kings, places, events (event times) etc., are same in several different literatures that are supposed to be written (or were spoken) in different times by different authors. For instance, there are 18 major puranas that has overlapping contents, but which perhaps originated in different places and times from different personalities.
- Ancient temples carry the same events as stone-inscriptions, sculptures and paintings. These temples were commissioned by different kings and their men in different times.
- etc.,
As I understand the sanatana dharma, inquiry is a state of mind that is basic to human existence. I firmly believe that such an inquiring state of mind has heavily influenced the indian culture for thousands of years and hence the detailings are to be treated with a lot of intellectual respect than seen in current times. It is too naive to think that all the representations are a figment of imagination. I believe that our forefathers are great intellectuals who understands how to draw a line between imagination and reality quite well. They know how malinformation, mis-information and hiding the truths will impact common men and hence their works are too be treated with high-respect that it demands.
4. The subject content surrounding the human astral or ghost body was too detailed consisting of chakras and major & minor Nadis holding the Panchapranas. The names and functions described are also very detailed and aligning with a major system of medicine – Ayurveda.
5. While the allopathic way of medicine is based on scientific inquest, the stark ignoring of certain para normal events like presence of ghosts, and the incompleteness of the knowledge about birth, death and possible after-lives and inability to explain all the congenital defects, auto-immune diseases, functions of involuntary muscles etc., were searing into my consciousness and not allowing me to accept it as default.
6. A scientist who is exploring deep into quantum space and astronomical arrangements and anything in-between is seen lacking when it comes to the question of what happens when a person dies – absolutely nothing. This is despite the fact that everyone – including the scientist will die one day! This is a fundamental reason why I am trying to look for knowledge sources outside of scientific bodies of knowledge.
7. The way holy faith is seen integral in several cultures of India as seen in the traditions, sacraments and rituals with its deep meaning and manifesting in its arts, crafts, literatures, music & dance and even in its various cuisine styles and that too in a scale that is humongous, – is too profound for me to trust only science as the source of knowledge to trust. I tend to think that there is “an invisible hand of God” that make all this possible. I am fully aware that there are other cultures around the globe that too has similar manifestations.
8. Etc.,